Thanksgiving for the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels

Liturgy for a Service of Thanksgiving for the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North East Region, Summer 2013

Submitted by Ray Anglesea, St Andrew's Dawson Street, Crook

Please find set out below a liturgy which you may wish to use/adapt in the coming weeks whilst the Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition is held in Durham. I am very happy to forward to you my power-point presentation which I used for this service. I am grateful for the office of the Dean of Durham for permission to use the hymn written by Dean The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove “We praise you God, great Lord of time and space,” and a special thank you to the Cathedral’s Education Service for use of Children’s Props for the children’s address.   -   Ray Anglesea

Call to worship: Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way: and walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart. Psalm 119

Introduction: We come together to welcome the visit of the Lindisfarne Gospels to Durham, their earliest home, to celebrate the Christian Heritage of North-East England, and to rejoice in St Cuthbert, in honour of whom the Lindisfarne Gospels were created and the Cathedral Church of Durham was built. We ask for God’s blessing on the Gospel Exhibition and all who visit it.

Hymn:  R&S 38 Thou whose almighty word.

Prayers As an open bible is brought forward to rest on the communion table, candles are lit beside the bible in thanksgiving for God’s word and the following prayers are said:-

Your word is a lantern to our feet

And a light upon our path

 

Blessed are you, Lord our God

How sweet are your words to our taste,
Sweeter than honey to the mouth.
How precious are your commands for our life,
More than the finest gold in our hands.

Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ.

May his word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path;
for you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation,
And we your creatures glorify you.

 

A Collect for St Cuthbert: Almighty God, who called your servant Cuthbert from following the flock to follow your Son and to be a shepherd of your people: in your mercy, grant that we, following his example, may bring those who are lost home to your fold; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Music: The Lord is my shepherd (Goodall) with Bryn Terfel.

Powerpoint Presentation: A collection of sights and sounds of the Lindisfarne Gospels, local attractions, theatre, music, talks and merchandise

Children’s Address: Cuthbert’s Story: This short story of the life of St Cuthbert was made into a short play, children dressed in monks habits with soft cuddly toys – lambs and otters, one dressed as a bishop with mitre, ring, and Cuthbert necklace/cross who later walked around the church stopping off at various city signposts held by members of the congregation. 

Cuthbert was probably born in the Scottish Lowlands around the year 640. At the age of 8 a prophetic remark from a playmate turned his mind to sober and godly thoughts, and his upbringing as a shepherd gave him ample time for prayer. One night he saw in the sky a dazzling light and angels carrying a soul up to heaven, and resolved to dedicate his life to God. Some years later Cuthbert came to Melrose Abbey asking to be admitted as a monk. It was from here that he began his missionary work, which he continued from Lindisfarne when he became abbot there. Once when he was at Coldingham Abbey (a special monastery that contained monks and nuns) he was spied on in the middle of the night praying in the cold North Sea. The story is told of two sea otters that came out of the sea to dry Cuthbert’s feet.  Consecrated Bishop in 685, he remained an indefatigable traveller and preacher, walking all over his diocese and spending time as a hermit on Farne Island in between. After only a year, however he felt his end coming and resigned his office dying on the Farne in the company of a few of his monks.

The Monks of Lindisfarne following Viking Raids set off on a journey with Cuthbert’s body and left Lindisfarne walking to to Whithorn, Carlisle, Ripon, York, Chester le Street, eventually arriving at Durham where he was later buried in Durham Priory, later to be called Durham Cathedral.

Props for children’s address provided by the Durham Cathedral Education Service.

Offertory, Offertory Prayer

Hymn: We praise you God, great Lord of time and space (Tune Engelberg STF 731)

           (Produced with kind permission, office of the Dean of Durham Cathedral)

1.We praise you God, great Lord of time and space
For all the saints of this and every place
Whose stories tell of light and truth and grace:
Alleluia!

2. We sing of Cuthbert, old Northumbria’s pride
The island saint who trod these landscapes wide
As humble teacher, healer, friend and guide:
Alleluia!

3. Your Spirit called the boy from keeping sheep
To guard your people and to rouse from sleep
All those a shepherd’s care would find and keep:
Alleluia!

4. He cherished all that lives and moves on earth,
The birds and beasts, your creatures brought to birth,
In whom he saw your presence, gift and worth:
Alleluia!

5. You made him bishop, gave him gifts to lead;
He told the news of grace in word and deed,
Restored your church and bound the wounds of need
Alleluia!

6. The lonely hermit, holy man of prayer
Went forth to fight the demons of despair,
With strength divine to struggle, risk and dare:
Alleluia!

7. Teach us, good Lord to serve with heart and soul;
Like Cuthbert, make us sound and whole;
And bring us with your saints to heaven’s goal:
Alleluia!

8. We sing of Cuthbert, saint, companion, friend;
To you our God all thanks and praise ascend
Now at this feast, and till all ages end.
Alleluia! Amen

Michael Sadgrove, Dean of Durham                            

 

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5. v1-12

Sermon

Prayers of Intercession

We remember with thanksgiving the life of St. Cuthbert and the making of the Lindisfarne Gospels in honour of him. We pray for our County and region, the cathedral church of Durham and its university, that rejoicing in our heritage, we may work together for the common good. We remember for all who will visit the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition and all who will visit his shrine. We pray that we may all be inspired to seek those good things which belong to our flourishing and to which the gospels bear witness.

Creator God, help us to read into the minds of those who write. May we glimpse their insights as we rejoice in their words. Let the things we read and learn inform our thinking and lead us to balanced views and deeper thoughts as well as enjoyable moments. Let your love shine through the prism of the printed page and the magic of the screen.

Lord of spirit and truth, surround our thoughts and hopes with meditation and contemplation. As we seek to make sense of the word through poetry and prayer, through word and deed, through music and song, may your spirit spark exploration of the gift of imagination, in writer, reader and viewer alike.

And finally - Loving Father, help us to follow the example of Cuthbert, by the simplicity of our lives and by the power of our witness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Communion Hymn: R&S 373 Lord Jesus Christ you have come to us

The Communion

Hymn: R&S 661 How shall I sing that Majesty (Tune Coe Fen STF 667)

Benediction: May God, who kindled the fire of his love in the hearts of the saints, pour upon you the riches of his grace. May he strengthen you to walk in the way of holiness and to come to the full radiance of glory.  And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.   Amen